“In yet another tumultuous year, we’ve remained focused on creativity,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “Staying #1 requires stability, flexibility and surprise. Strategic moves last year resulted in this past season’s biggest hits, while /A\ became a destination network with remarkable growth. We remain committed to producing original Canadian programming that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best on our schedule.”

CTV will end the 2008/09 broadcast season as Canada’s #1 network among total viewers and A25-54 for the eighth consecutive year, and Canada’s #1 network among A18-49 and A18-34 for seven years running. As the result, CTV’s stable, powerhouse schedule requires little tinkering. CTV sees the addition of two new series this fall: the new health and wellness talk series THE DR. OZ SHOW, from Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television, in place of GENERAL HOSPITAL, which moves to /A\; and the fashionable new Thursday-night drama THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, starring DEGRASSI’S Nina Dobrev.

Also coming to CTV in 2009/2010 is the eagerly anticipated Original CTV Series THE BRIDGE. Starring Aaron Douglas (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) as controversial police union head Frank Leo, THE BRIDGE is a gripping one-hour drama about police, power and politics, currently in production and set to premiere on CTV and CBS in mid-season.

/A\ blasted onto the conventional landscape this season, with audience growth of nearly 30%, to become Canada’s fourth network. Building on that momentum, /A\ sees five new programs join its surging schedule: FLASH FORWARD, this fall’s biggest buzz series; HANK and THE MIDDLE, two new comedies starring sitcom veterans Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton, respectively; THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE, the new drama starring Mischa Barton that goes behind the scenes of the world of modeling; and the mystical drama EASTWICK, based on the hit movie and acclaimed novel.

With 16 of the Top 20 programs in Canada in 2008/2009, CTV and /A\ have a strong stable of proven performers, all of which return next season (save ER). Back this fall on the CTV schedule are last season’s #1 new program, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA; the #1 Canadian drama, FLASHPOINT; breakout hit THE MENTALIST, and the #1 television series overall, GREY’S ANATOMY. Top 20 hit DANCING WITH THE STARS returns to CTV while reality favourite AMERICA’S TOP MODEL comes to CTV for the first time. Also returning are an enviable list of Canada’s most-watched, Top 20 series: CRIMINAL MINDS (#4), CSI (#6), THE AMAZING RACE (#7), CSI: NEW YORK (#9), DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (#10), CSI: MIAMI (#12), and LAW & ORDER: SVU (#15), among others.

Returning to the /A\ schedule this fall are Canada’s #1 comedy, TWO AND A HALF MEN, paired with cult hit BIG BANG THEORY, as well as Canada’s #1 new imported drama, FRINGE. Also returning are proven performers MEDIUM, LAW & ORDER, GOSSIP GIRL, PRIVATE PRACTICE and CASTLE, among others.

CTV also confirmed today the first projects on its production slate for the 2010/11 season, including two, new, 13-part comedy series. Created, executive produced and written by the incomparable CORNER GAS creator and star Brent Butt, HICCUPS stars CORNER GAS’ Nancy Robertson as a children’s author with anger issues and Butt as her hapless “life coach”. DAN FOR MAYOR, from three of Canada’s most respected comedy writers and producers, Mark Farrell, Paul Mather and Kevin White, stars CORNER GAS alumnus Fred Ewanuick as a 30-something bartender who runs for mayor of his hometown.

The two new series join additional CTV Original Series entering new production cycles, including DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION, FLASHPOINT, and SPECTACLE: ELVIS COSTELLO WITH… CTV also announced today that it will premiere a new two-hour TV movie event, PARADISE CITY: DEGRASSI GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, this September.

CTV ends the season with almost double the amount of viewers in primetime than its nearest competitor, leading Global by 97%. CTV wins six out of seven nights (Sunday-Friday) among all Canadian broadcasters with total viewers, A25-54 and A18-49. At the close of its debut season, /A\’s audience is now one third larger than E! and Citytv, leading the two networks in all key ratings measures, including A18-34. /A\ delivered million-plus audiences regularly, most notably for TWO AND HALF MEN and DANCING WITH THE STARS, often winning the timeslot against other conventional networks.

Online, CTV’s digital offerings experienced incredible growth. CTVglobemedia web sites are the #1 Canadian-owned properties streaming videos online, serving five times more videos than CBC-Radio Canada sites and Canwest Digital.* CTV sites delivered almost half a billion video streams over the course of the past broadcast season.** The most watched shows on CTV.ca were, in order, GREY’S ANATOMY, GOSSIP GIRL, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, DEGRASSI: TNG, PRIVATE PRACTICE, LOST, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA, FLASHPOINT, ER and TWO AND A HALF MEN. New offerings for the CTV Video Player at CTV.ca for Fall 2009 will be announced soon.

About the CTV Schedule

With strength across genres and with a Top 20 hit airing every night of the week (Sunday-Friday), CTV’s 2009 Fall Schedule is designed to win every timeslot, night after night, week after week.

• CTV has found primetime in daytime with the new talk series THE DR. OZ SHOW. Hosted by best-selling author and charismatic medical authority Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, the multi-topic, multi-segment health and wellness talk show follows OPRAH, Monday-Friday at 5 p.m. beginning Sept. 14.• Mondays see DANCING WITH THE STARS return for two-hours of appointment television, followed by Top 20 hit CSI: MIAMI, both in simulcast.• Tuesdays is all dance all the time with return of last season’s #1 new series SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA, paired with the DANCING WITH THE STARS results show. LAW & ORDER: SVU returns to its Tuesday night timeslot at 10 p.m.• Wednesdays see the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA results episode lead into AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL in simulcast at 8 p.m., followed by Top 20 hits CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NEW YORK, also both in simulcast.• Thursdays features the all-new THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, which gets its North American premiere on CTV at 7 p.m. Then, it’s the can’t-beat lineup of timeslot winner CSI, Canada’s #1 television program GREY’S ANATOMY and breakthrough hit THE MENTALIST, all in simulcast.• Fridays see audience favourite GHOST WHISPERER kick off the night before mid-season smash SOUTHLAND and North American success FLASHPOINT head to the streets of LA and Toronto.• Saturdays see Canada’s #1 current affairs program W-FIVE return for its record-breaking 44th season as Canada’s longest-running program of that genre.• Sundays see the ninth season of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION lead into three hours of simulcast, including Emmy Award-winner THE AMAZING RACE at 8 p.m., Top 10 hit DESPERATE HOUSEVIVES at 9 p.m. and Bruckheimer winner COLD CASE at 10 p.m.